Improvement in steam-boilers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN EKIN, OF XENIA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WILLIAM ALLISON, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-BOILERS,

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,051, datedrJuly 29, 1562.

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN EKIN, of Xenia, in the county of Greeneand State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Boilers and the Furnaces therefor; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of my improved furnace and boiler. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same..

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both gures.

The subject of my invention is a steamboiler and furnace having an inner flue with a downward or backward draft and an outer dischargeflue with a draft in the reverse direction, the flue rst traversed by the pro ducts of combustion being within the water space and the return-flue on its exterior, so that the Water is entirely surrounded by the heating-gases, and the hottest gases are entirely surrounded by heating-surface in contact `with the water.

The invention further consists in the use of a grate applied within the' inner iiue, above referred to, and provided with one or more apertures of sufficient size, and so located that masses of incombustible material may escape through the said apertures after having been for some time subjected to the action of the burning fuel.

The invention also consists in the combination of a basket-grate and agitator of peculiar construction.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A is an annular Water-space placed between a central liuc, B, and an outer annular fiue, C, which iiues are connected at bottom. The annular shell of the water-space may be supported from above or may rest upon hollow columns D, through which the Water may circulate, or the shell itself may extend down to the bottom in parts with sufficient intervals to permit the passage of the gases. The space E beneath the water-chamber constitutes a close ash-pit provided with a door, K, through which the ashes may be removed.

F is a basket-grate suspended in the upper part of the flue B. The said grate is open at top, and is formed at bottomwith a central aperture, f, for the escape of slag, as hereinafter explained. rIlhe portion of the flue above the grate constitutes a fuel-chamber through which the re is constantly supplied.

G is a stirrer, formed of a hollow shaft terminating in a number of expanding arms, gg. The said stirrer is journaled above in a crossbar, H, and rests upon the bottom of the grate or upon the fuel therein.

I is a lever by which the stirrer may be turned. The iiue C may communicate with the stack by means of a conductor, J, placed in any suitable position. l The present illustration may represent a vertical boiler ten feet in height and three feet in diameter, and the water space and outer flue each about four inches. The grate is inserted in such position that its upper edge will be about two feet below the water-line in the boiler.

Thestirrer G may be of cast-iron, sufficiently massive to give it the requisite strength and adapt it to resist the action of the fire. Being hollow, air Will be supplied through it to the lower part of the fire. The steam and water pipes may be placed in any suitable positions, and do not require specific description. The outer shell of the Hue C may be of either metal or masonry.

The space A being supplied with water to some distance above the top of the grate, a lire kindled. within the latter, and the stirrer G inserted, fuel is supplied completely to the top of the liue B. The air to supply combustion descends through the fuel and through the hollow shaft of the stirrer, and as ashes are formed they fall between the arms g and be tween the bars of the grate into the ash-pit beneath, llhe arms g are sufficiently close together at top to prevent the passage of masses of unburned coal, but at bottom have sufficient spaces between them to permit any slag which may remain unconsumed in the lower part of the grate to escape between them and through the central aperture, f, of the grate. The red arrows indicate the direction in which the products of combustion pass. It will be apparent that the gases on rst leaving the fire (being of course at their highest temperature) pass through the central flue, B, and are thus surrounded on all sides with heatingsurface in contact with water. Reaching the lower end of the water-chamber A, the gases pass beneath it and up through the exterior annular iiue, C, surrounding the water on all sides. The water is thus held between metallic surfaces which are constantly under the action of the fire. When a sufficient quantity of ashes has collected to render it needful, the door K is opened and the ashes removed. At all other times the door is kept closed.

The invention may be adapted for the use of either wood or coal as fuel.

The grate may be movable, so as to admit of being readily taken out and renewed with out interferingwith any other part of the structure, or it may be permanently attached to the boiler having hollow bars communicating with the water-space, so that water will circulate through them. It may be in basket form, as represented, with bars parallel with the sides ofthe flue, or nearly so, or with hars either ascending or descending from the outside toward the center, or with vhorizontal bars.' In case of the bars rising to the center, one or more slag-apertures will be made at the circumference atv the lowest part. The grate may be located at any preferred height within the iiue B. The boiler may be either vertical, shown, oiihorizontal, or in any inclined po-v sition between the two, the grate and ashpit being adjusted in accordance therewith. The iiues B and C may have any relative areas that may be found best to insure an effective draft and an equal distribution of heat.

While referring to various modifications of form and position of parts under which my invention may be used, it is proper to state that the illustration given is believed to constitute its most 'advantageous form.

The above-described invention possesses the following features of practical utility: First, it is very economical of fuel; second, the most intense heat is applied within the water-space and at its upper part, where the surface of the metal 'cannot become coated with sediment; third, the dues extending within and completely around the water-chamber afford a great extent of heating-surface.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An inner flue, B, containing the fire-space and fuel-supply chamber, in the described combination with an annular waterspace, A, sur-l rounded by an annular ue, C, communicating with the iiue B at the lower or rear end of the Waterchamber, all substantially as specified.

2. A grate, F, applied within the iue B, and provided with one or more apertures adapted by their size and location to permit the escape of slag after it has been for a time subjected to the action ofthe burning fuel, substantially as set forth.

3. The hollowstirrer G, operating in connection with the grate F f, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

y JOHN EKIN. Vitnesses:

LEWIS `Vrnerrr, M. F. ANDERSON. 

